Method of intermittently operating apparatus



' E. E. LITILEFIELD. METHOD OF INTERMITTENTLY OPERATING APPARATUS. I

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, I916. .1 ,404,155, I Patented Jan. 17,1922.

2 SI'IhtIS-SHEET c m l l%% I Q I I I E '1|"|||l I Q I a LEI o 01mm Edyan for Lifflefieb' y //ff 1c] E. E. LITTLEFIELD. METHOD OF INTERMITTENTLY OPERATING APPARATUS.

' APPLICATION FILED JULY 19, I916. 1,404,155. Patented Jan. 17, 1922.

ZSHkLlS-SHEET 2- #weflfor Edgar Ear/e Lirflef'e/d A igQ wfl A fig UNlTED -STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDGAR EARLE ni'r'rnnrrnnn,

or SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

Application filed July 19,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDGAR EARLE LITTLE- FIELD, acitizen of the United States, and resident of Seattle, county of King, and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Intermittently Operating Apparatus, of whichthe iollowing is aspecification.

My invention relates to a method of intermittently operating apparatus through the medium of changes in the electrical condition of a circuit caused by variations in the character, or condition, of a fluid which forms a link in said circuit.

The object of my invention is to provide a method whereby an electric current may be automatically produced, or varied in intensity, or character, and this produced'current, or the variation or modification of an existing current applied to the operation of motor mechanisms.

My invention comprises certain steps, arranged and applied in a certain order and manner which will secure the desired results in the manner herein set forth and then defined in the claims terminating this specification.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown typical forms of apparatus which may be employed to carry out my invention.

Figure l is a vertical section through a urinal having my invention applied thereto in one type of construction.

Figure 2 is a like view showing another type of construction.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of a closet bowl having my invention applied thereto.

Figure 4: shows the manner in which my apparatus may be applied to a trap of a flushing appa atus.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section through a plug-like member which may be used 'as a terminal connection for the apparatus employed.

My method is particularly applicable in controlling the supply, or discharge of fluids which vary or are varied in electrical Y conductivity and electrolytic activity. Means suited to carrying out my invention are shown in the drawings above referred to.

I have employed my method for the automatic flushing of such waste receptacles as urinals and water closets and find that the body wastes may be used either as the active agent in an electro generative fluid or elec- Specifieation of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 17, 1922. 1916. Serial No. 110,053.

trolyte to complete a voltaic cell or to vary the resistance in the external path of a c1rcu 1t. In other forms of apparatus employ ng my method the fluid may also form a resistance varied in resistance by the presvence or absence of the body wastes either in the external or internal path of a circuit. Either an alternating or direct current may be used as the nature of the case may re- (111118. The circuit controlling the operatmg mechanlsms may be either grounded or the current may be returned through an unearthed circuit.

Urine is known to be a very good electrolyte while the water normally forming the seal of such receptacles as urinals and water closets is a nonconductor, or, at least, a very poor one. By adding urine, fecal matter, or other body waste to this seal an electrolyte is roduced capable of acting upon electro es placed in the seal to thereby produce a current of appreciable amount. It will also so increase the conductivity of the fluid that the current passing therethrough 1s sufiiclent to control, or operate, other forces or mechanisms. If the fluid forming the seal of such vessels be considered as an electrolytic cell and electrodes be placed to contact therewith the varying resistance of the fluid, caused by the alternate addition of the Waste and the flushing of the same, w ll so vary the current flow that this variation may be used to control the flushing operation. It is evident that practically any other apparatus might be operated in an analogous manner.

In Figure 1 is shown in section one form of apparatus, employing my method, wherein the waste is used to vary the resistance in the external path of a circuit 25', the current of which may be supplied, either by the batteries 6, or from any other suitable or convenient source, such as a dynamo. Either a direct or alternating current may be used, although I have found that in some forms of apparatus, one type of current ofi'ers advantages over the other, as will appear hereinafter.

The electrically-operated valve 4 controls a supply of water from any convenient source 3 for flushing the apparatus. Inserted in the trap 26'is a terminal or electrode 9, which may be constructed as in Figure 5, this resembling an ordinary spark plug, except that no spark gap is provided and the insulating member 27 forms a tube within which is closel fitted the cylindrical carbon electrode 7. or this carbon electrode may be substituted any other acid-- resisting conductor, such as either, of the metals platinum or tungsten. The terminal 28 completes the circuit through the waste pipe ,10. The current may be either ground- I ed through the-piping system or returned to its source in a manner similar to that shown.

.Where a nonconductive type of; trap, such as earthenware, is'used, companlonelectrodes may be placed tocontact with the seal and the current either grounded or returned to its source as above indicated. I Inoperation the trap 26 normally contains water, which, ina pure. state is non- Y conductive, but which has its resistance lowered b 20 the addition thereto of a body waste, suc as urine or fecal matter. Upon the addition of such waste, the conductivity of the trap'fluid will increase to such an'extent as to be capable of actuating the valve 4, thereby bringingabout a flushing of the apparatus. .When the flushing water has cleansed the trap,,the resistance is thereby increased to cut down the current flow,

thereby permitting the normally acting means to automatically close the valve.

While pure ;water is a nonconductor' it would not always be convenient to .use it I for 'flushing purposes and as ordinary tap Water Sometimes -carries impurities which vary its resistance, I have employed various means for prevent ng leakage of current where impure water is used. This" result may be brought about, either by varying the "immersed surfaeesfof the electrodes, or their. distance apart, or both, or by allowrngthe as formed by the chemical reaction to be e os'ited upon the electrodes. ere an alternating current is used,

' however, certain advantages" appear which make 1ts use desirable 1n certaln forms of apparatus. ,This is particularly due to the fact that less chemical reaction takes place in an alternating circuit and the heating effeet is less than in a direct circuit,

Where the flushing fluid is slightly impure,.or when, for any reason, it is desirable to automaticall gas formed by the c emical reaction of the current may be interposed as a resistancebetween the terminals. In Figure 5, I have shown a modified form of electrode and have also shown the i shell of the part 9, as partly broken away.

The lower free end 8 of this electrode 7 is provided with a concave surface upon which the gas of polarization is deposited. In any apparatus employing m method, I contemplate that any suitable orm of electrode, or

- its associated parts, may be used, whether specifically set out herein or not. It is evident that when'sufiicient gas has been dewill be automatically open .the circuit, a the which is shown a modified form of trap,

partly broken away. In this case the gas resulting from the chemical reaction rises in the chamber 12 surrounding the lower free end of the electrode 7, forcing the trap fluid away from contact with the electrode and automatically opening the circuit;

1 In Figure 2 I have shown a modified form of apparatus, partly in section, in which the 'waste is employed as the active fluid, or electrolyte, in-a voltaic cell, the current 'generated thereby being employed, through a relay 30, to' close an independent circuit 50, which controls'the operation of the valve 4. Yoltaic couples, 2 and 20, are shown as con-. tacting with the sealing fl uid. The' trap .80 form-an integral part of the urinal which ma be in the form of a strainer, and

the. partition '10, which prevents gas escap-- ing through the apparatus. Means are provided at 29 for passingthe circuit 19 through the discharge pipe "10. I

1 and is provided with the cover 81,

In Figure 3, I have shown my method as applied in the operation. of automatically flushing a closet bowl, which is shown partly in section. The voltaic couples2 and 20, in modified form, are placed-to contact with the water forming the seal of the bowl, the

other parts being' essentially as heretofore.

klescribed, I have also showna roll of toilet paper 15, to which may be applied, or have incorporated therein, a chemical which is innocuous to theuser, but which will dissolve in the water, making of. it a betterelectrolyte,'thereby increasing the current flowing in the relay or other circuit. This fluid may also form aresistance in the external path of a circuit, in which casethe use of a relay would not be necessary.

Fluids in many conditions offer various resistances to the, passage of an electric current and with my method the supply, or discharge, of all such fluids may be regulated by the employment of apparatus best suited for the particular purpose without departing from the spirit of m invention. In waste receiving receptac es such as urinals and water closets, the temperature of the Waste is considerably higher than that of the normal sealing fillld and this condition of the waste, either alone or combined to advantage to control or to increase the eflectiveness of the apparatus.

at a point which is in the path of flow of by a fluid of anot There are many forms of apparatus in which my method may be employed. In many cases where chemical reactions are taking place, it is desirable to discharge the fluid, or add new fluid, after a certain amount of chemical reaction has taken place. This would be. particularly true where'replen'ishing fluid is required in storage, or other batteries, or 'for electrolytic rectifiers and the like. In all these cases the controlling mechanisms may be made to operate in conformity with the conductivity of the fluid. My method may also be applied in the operation of pumping, or in apparatus having for its object the caring for sewage, factory wastes, or for regulating the supply, or discharge, of various conditions.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. The method of automatically starting intermittently operated mechanisms which consists in varying the chemical character of a fluid in the path of a normally-char d closed circuit which controls said mec anisms and using the. varying resistance of said fluid to control the current in said closed circuit to thereby actuate said mechavarious fluids in nisms. w

2. The method of regulating the delivery of a fluid which consists ih using the fluid as the internal resistance in the path of a circuit and using the varying resistance of the fluid to control nisms.-

-3. The method the actuating mechaor automatically stoppiifig.

an electrically controlled'fluid supp varying the conductivity of a fluid which forms a mediumin a path which is com-' mon to boththe fluid supply and the current -in a supply controlling circuit. 4. The meth0d-0f automatical1y stopping an electrically controlled fluid supply by introducing said fluid supply into a gap in a circuit. which is bridged}- supply-controllin Tier conductivit 5. The method of automatically regulating a flow of fluid by fluctuations in a circuit which consists in varying the conduc-' J tivity of a fluid intprposed in a gap in a supply controlling circuit and utilizing the fluctuations of current, thereby produced to govern the operation of the supply regulating mechanisms 6. The method of automatically regulating a flow f fluid. by fluctuations in a cir-.

c ui t which consists in varying the conductivity of a fluid which. bridges said circuit said fluid and utilizing the variations in the conductivity of said circuit to govern' current thereby produced to govern the operation of the supply controlling mechanisms.

8. The method of automatically regulating a flowof fluid by fluctuations in a cirtivity of a fluid which forms a medium in the path of the fluid supply and utilizing the variations in conductivity thereby produced to govern the operation of the supply regulating mechanisms. I.

9. The method of automatically regulating a flow of fluid by variations in the conductivity of a fluid which is interposed in a gap in a supply controlling circuit at an iintesection which is common to the flow of 10. The method ofautom'atically stopping an electrically controlled fluid suppl by substituting the said fluid supply or more conductive fluid which is in of the controllin current. a

11. The metho ofsecuring an automatic flushing action which consists in producing an increased flow of electric current by increasing the conductivity of the circuit through the deposit of a waste in abody of-fluid which is included in said circuit and in applying said increased current flow to replace said fluid by a less. conductive fluid to thereby reduce the flow of electric current and thus cut ofl the fluid flow.

12. Thefmethod of controlling the operation of flushing mechanisms for urinals, water cl ts, and the like, which consists in using .t e waste as afconductor to close a circuit controlling the operation of the flushing mechanism and using the flushing fluid as a resistance toreduce the conductivity of said circuit.

13. The method of automatically regulat ing a flow of fluid the path of which is intersected by a supply controlling circuit which consists in utilizing fluctuations in the path cuit which consists in varying the conducsaid circuit due ,to variations in the conductivity of a fluid. medium included in said circult to govern theoperation of the supplyregulating mechanisms.

- 14. The method of automatically stopping an electrically controlled fluid supply by substituting the said fluid supply {or a more conductive fluid which forms a resistance in thecontrolling circuit during the operation of the a paratusr.

Sign at Seattle, Washington, this 13th day of July, 1916. 

